⧉ Recommended
Welcome to the twenty-seventh issue of OVERLAP ⧉
Recommended
When it comes to “love languages,” gifts are the most mysterious to me. My family was never into extravagant purchases or new things; we exchanged gifts, but our celebrations were mostly centered around food, music, and conversation. I’ve been trying to improve my own approach to gift-giving in recent years, but it doesn’t come naturally to me.
I do, however, love sharing the objects that bring me joy, and Auntie Jess recommends has been a surprisingly popular section of this newsletter. I went back through the past 26 issues of recommendations to assemble a selection of low-cost, easy-to-acquire gifts.
Books for writers and editors:
- Dreyer’s English by Benjamin Dreyer
- Draft No. 4 by John McPhee
- Several Short Sentences About Writing by Verlyn Klinkenborg
Essays and fiction for thoughtful readers:
- No Time to Spare by Ursula K. Le Guin
- Fox 8 by George Saunders
- The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Books for photographers:
- All About Saul Leiter
- Vivian Maier’s Self Portraits
- The Sweet Flypaper of Life by Roy DeCarava and Langston Hughes
Small gifts for dinner party hosts and foodie friends:
- Peak ice cube trays
- Local and/or hard-to-find hot sauces
- Chebe bread mix, with a container of shredded Parmesan cheese
Everyday luxuries for neat freaks:
- Muji lint rollers
- Zeiss lens wipes
- Crease Release spray
Daily-carry essentials for almost anyone:
- Baggu reusable shopping bags
- OHTO Horizon pen
- The perfect notebook
You might find more ideas in the archives. What’s the best gift you’ve given lately? Hit reply or send a note through my website to share your tips — I need all the gift-giving help I can get.
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I was in D.C. recently, celebrating my bestie’s birthday … and I kind of just forgot to post on Instagram. It felt good to enjoy a leisurely weekend without broadcasting it. I did snap a few iPhone photos, which I was delighted to find on my camera roll while looking for newsletter images.
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Auntie Jess recommends:
Learning the real Thanksgiving story. I’ve spent the last few years trying to reeducate myself about American history, and I’m only beginning to scratch the surface of what I don’t know. Luckily, some teachers are telling more accurate stories about the first Thanksgiving.
Holiday weekends in the city. Many New Yorkers leave town for a long weekend, but I love staying here. The neighborhood is quiet, the laundry room is empty, and I can finally get into a busy brunch spot without waiting for a table.
Kind of Blue. This 60-year-old Miles Davis album was the first jazz record I really connected with, and it’s still the perfect soundtrack for a range of activities: writing on deadline, cooking dinner, or staring out the window on a rainy day.
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Thanks for reading. OVERLAP is going on winter break soon! After the next issue on December 4, I won’t be back in your inbox until January 4. I’ll still be online, for the most part; please feel welcome to reply and say hello whenever you’d like.
Until next time,
Jessica
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